Chennaiyin FC will play their first ever Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup match on March 6, 2019 against either Colombo FC or Transport United FC. The South-Indian side were awarded the AFC Cup play-off spot courtesy of winning the 2017-18 Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL). At the AFC Cup draw held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Thursday, Chennaiyin were drawn against the winners of Sri-Lankan side Colombo FC and Bhutanese side Transport United for their play-off encounter.

We will begin our debut @AFCCup campaign with a two-legged play-off round qualifier in March against either Bhutan's Transport United or Sri Lanka's Colombo FC. 🙌#2019AFCCupDraw #AFCCup2019 #CFCinAsia #PoduMachiGoalu pic.twitter.com/xnxCLmHeKR

— Chennaiyin FC 🏆🏆 (@ChennaiyinFC) November 22, 2018

If Chennaiyin manages to win their two-legged play-off qualifier, they will secure qualification to Group E of the competition, which could feature defending Hero I-League champions Minerva Punjab, the winners of the Bangladesh League and the winners of the Nepal league.

Minerva Punjab will contest against Iranian club Saipa as part of the qualifying round for the group stages of the AFC Champions League. Should they win their fixture, they will then face-off against Qatar club Al Rayyan. A victory for the Hero I-League team in both encounters will see them qualify for the AFC Champions League, leaving Group E of the AFC Cup with only three teams.

Here are the #AFCCup2019 draw results. Who will be crowned the champions this season? pic.twitter.com/xBRlVNNk52

— AFC Cup (@AFCCup) November 22, 2018

Colombo FC and Transport United will contest in a two-legged fixture in February with the winner locking horns against Chennaiyin FC in March for a spot in Group E of the AFC Cup.